Cheese slicing utensil



Aug. 25, 1953 Filed Dec. 18, 1950 H. L. NELSON CHEESE SLICING UTENSIL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 HAROLD L. NELSON INVENTOR.

,XQM ATTORNEY 1953 H. L. NELSON 2,649,658 I CHEESE SLICING UTENSIL Filed Dec. 18, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HAROLD L. NELSON INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1953 L. NELSON CHEESE SLICING UTENSIL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 18, 1950' HAROLD L. NELSON INVENTOR.

TTORNEY H. L. NELSON CHEESE SLICING UTENSIL Aug. 25, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 18, 1950 HAROLD L. NELSON INVENTOR.

BY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 25,1953

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHEESE *SLICING UTENSIL Harold Laurance Nelson, Oakland, Calif.

. Application December 18, 1950, Serial No. 201,313 I 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a utensil which is to facilitate the slicing of cheese,'and particularly to such a device for family household use.

One object of the invention is to provide an effective but low cost utensil which occupies a minimum of space, can be conveniently accommodated in a box or drawer or on a hook, can easily be cleaned, and can be made in a variety of ways some of which are accommodated to volume production at low cost and othersto custom production at moderate costs.

Other advantages of the invention will become evident upon consideration of the following specification wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings showing the various modifications, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view showing one modification of the invention, and the general method of use of all modifications as well as the specific method of use of the one modification;

Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5a. illustrate severally the components and relationships of components of a second modification. Fig.2 is an isometric view of a base portion, partly broken away, and other parts indicated in dotted lines; Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a tray or carriage portion; Fig. 4 is an isometric view partially in section showing details; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section through a modification of the base near its top surface; and Fig. 5a shows a modified detail;

Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and illustrate a third modi fication. Fig. 6 is an isometric view of a base and cutter guide portion; Fig. 7 is an isometric view of a tray or carriage portion; Fig.8 is a side elevation, partially in section, of part of the utensil assembled in an out-of-use relationship; Fig. 9 is a plan view of Fig. 8, the tray being omitted; and Fig. 10 showsthe utensil assembled and being hung on a nail;

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate a fourth modification. Fig. ll is an isometric view of the base and the cutter guide in position for use; Fig. 12 is an isometric view of the tray or carriage; and Fig. 13 shows the tray, cutter' guide, and base in collapsed, or out of use, assembly;

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate a fifth modification. Fig. 14 is a vertical section; and Fig. 15 shows the base portion in isometric view on a reduced scale.

The modification of, Fig. 1 comprises a base portion I, a cutter guide 2, and a sliding tray or carriage 3. The base I may be formed as a solid block, or in a hollow shape, and provides parallel rectangular top and bottom fiat plane surfaces with perpendicularly related walls defining straight edges along the top and bottom surfaces and two substantially parallel plane surfaces 4 perpendicular to the top. surface 5. The cutter guide 2 is formed in the U shapeillustrated to have a bridg p rt on 6 and parallel legs 1 spaced apart the distance between surfaces 4 so as to receive the same snugly therebetween as shown.

The cutter guide 2 has uniplanar front edges 8 for positioning about perpendicular to the plane of surface 5 and fiat side surfaces 9. The bottom ends I0 of the legs 'i are perpendicular to the planes of surfaces 8 and 9. The guide 2 is hinged by two coaxial pivots II in base I so that when edges 8 are perpendicular to surface 5 the ends IQ of the legs are either flush with, or project a little below, the bottom surface of base I. The widths of the sides 9 of member 2 is preferably about equal to the height of side walls 4, and hinges II are preferably spaced midway between the top and the bottom surfaces of base I and midway between the front edge 8 and the back edge I2 of member 2. The lengths of the legs I are equal and such that bridge 6 may be turned approximately ninety geometric degrees about pivots II to register with the end I3 of base I, preferably leaving a slight space between bridge 6 and the end I3 for the gripping of a tray abutment in a manner described in connection with another figure. The lengths of legs I are, moreover, sufficient to allow the passage of a cheese loaf I8 between bridge 6 and surface 5 on tray 3.

Tray 3 is a rectangular flat surfaced sheet of rigid, preferably metallic, material providing parallel side edges I5, a front edge IB perpendicular thereto and a rear edge which terminates adjacent a rectangular abutment II formed with the tray the forward top edge of which abutment is parallel to edge I 6 and perpendicular to edges I5. The distance between edges I5 is equal to or slightly greater than the distance between the side surfaces 4 of base I and such as to slidably engage both inside parallel surfaces of legs I. The guide 2 is preferably of a Springy metal. The axes of pins II coincide and are perpendicular to side surfaces 4. Accordingly, the guide member 2, in the Fig. 1 position, engages the edges I5 of tray 3 and forces tray 3 to slide with its edges parallel to the baseside edges with straight line motion, and hence perpendicularly I to the edges 8 when the edges 8 are in a plane perpendicular to the surface 5. V

The utensil is designed for slicing a cheese loaf I8 of uniform rectangular solid cross section,

into slices each of which is of uniform thickness.

in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, by means of a suitable cutting tool such as a well known wire type slicer comprising a forked frame having two tines I9 joined by a fine wire (wire not seen in drawing).

In operation, the base I is set on the fiat surface T, such as a table provides, with ends I 0 of the cutter guide engaging the surface T. The bottom surface of base I engages the surface '1 either fiushly, or only, along the rear edge at Ia if the ends I0 extend slightly below the bottom surface of the base. The hand shown at .the right in Figure l, in pressing down on the cheese loaf parallel to the plane of edges 8 and spaced from end !6 of tray 3 suficiently so that slices fall on this tray as cut in lapping relation; the entire cheese l8 may be cut with all slices remaining on the tray, which is projectedby the hand in successive steps between slicings beyond the end [3 of base I.

The second modification, illustrated in Figs. 2 through a, includes a base 20, a sliding tray 22-, and a cutter guide 24. The base 26 is formed to provide a top-having a fiat top surface 26 of generally rectangular outline with base side walls 28 and 39 forming a support for the top to elevate the same somewhat above any surface on which the utensil may be deposited in use, and to provide anchorage to be described for the cutter guide. The walls 28 and 30 are inclined slightly from the perpendicular and toward each other at the top, forming a frustro-pyramidal surface with minor base at the top surface 26. The shaping facilitates formation by plastic molding operations; and moreover, is utilized additionally as will be pointed out presently.

The base 26 provides a central stiffener web 32, uniting the side walls at a region between the ends 28 of the base, designed as the cutting region, at which the cutting thrust is exerted on the cheese loaf. This web 32 and the side walls are formed to provide a pair of laterally opening coaxial hinge sockets 34, and communicating with these sockets are two vertical grooves 36 having right cylindrical surfaces. Parallel to the grooves at the loaf side thereof, the base 20 provides integral cutter guide stop and tray guide lugs 38 having guide stop surfaces 40 and parallel vertical tray guide surfaces 42. The top surfaces 44 of the lugs 38 preferably terminate in a common plane parallel to surface 26 and only slightly elevated thereabove for a reason to be referred to. The tray guide surfaces 42 are parallel to the long edges of the base and the base further provides a second pair of tray guide lugs 46 having parallel facing tray edge guide surfaces 43 in the planes of surfaces 42. The lugs 46 terminate in a horizontal plane about as do surfaces 44 of lugs 33. The base 20 is also provided with a hole 50 for hanging the base on a hook.

The cutter guide 24 is formed preferably of round spring steel rod to provide a horizontal or bridge portion 52 uniting two parallel cutter guiding legs 54 of equal length terminating in two coaxially disposed hinge pin ends 56 received in sockets 34 with the adjacent leg detent portions 58 sprung into base detent grooves 36. In the working position of Figs. 2 and 4 the notch received portions 58 of the cutter guide cannot move in the direction of lugs 38 since they are stopped by these lugs against movement by pressure of the cutter bearing on the slicing sides of the legs 54. The guide 24 may, however, be rotated forwardly away from the lugs about the pins 56 hinging in sockets 34.

This movement causes the arm portions 53 to progressively separate because of the inclined surfaces of walls 30. The bridge portion 52 of the cutter guide is thus moved to lie adjacent surface 26 near its end when collapsed for deposit in a shipping container, kitchen drawer, or on a hook. The energy stored in the cutter guide 24 4 by such distortion is utilized to restore it to the working position shown by a slight pu-ll from the folded down position.

In- Fig. 5 the construction is somewhat altered so that the grooves for portions 58 form the vertical stops 40' replacing surfaces 40 and projecting lugs 38 and preventing spreading of legs 54 under thepressure incident to cutting. In this figure the detention function of the upper end 59 of the groove edge is also indicated to be slight at this point. The slight bending of the leg 24 incident to initiating collapsing movement causes the groove to progressively cam the two portions 58 apart.

The tray guiding surfaces 42 and 48 define planes lying between the legs 54, and the tray 22 is of a width to slid'ably fit between the tray guiding surfaces 42 of lugs 38 and surfaces 48 of lugs 46. The tray 22 is formed of rigid fiat sheet material providing parallel side edges 60 and of a thickness slightly greater than the elevation of lug surfaces 42 above surface 26. Accordingly, a prismatic cheese loaf lying flat on the top-surface of tray 22 and projecting over the edge will clear the top surfaces of lugs 38 and 46. The tray 22' is provided with a hole 62 by which it may be hung in registry with hole 50 in base 20, over a suitable hook or nail. The straight side edges of tray 22 form a guide by which the user may align the long edge of a cheese loaf so that its forward surface will lie parallel to the cutter guide legs 54. The general method of use of the utensil shown in Figs. 2 through 5a is adequately demonstrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 5a. illustrates an alternative form of round rod cutter guide 53 which has a bend at 55 near the hinge pins 51 so that, when it is collapsed, the leg portions 59 may lie more nearly parallel to the top surface 26. The hinge sockets for hinge pins 51 must, in this case, be spaced forwardly from stop lug 38, as shown.

The utensil illustrated by Figs. 6 through 10 provides a base 10 which is generally similar to that of previously described modifications. The top surface 26', which corresponds to surface 26 of Fig. 2, is bounded on its long edges by parallel rails 12. The sidewalls 30' are provided with notches, of rectangular sections transverse their vertical axes, to receive a cutter guide formed of bar or strip spring steel stock, bent as shown to grip the base between the leg portions 58. Suitable pivot pins 14 adjacent the tops of the walls provide hinging for the cutter guide; the forward walls 16 of the notches, with additional lugs 18 if desired, serve to prevent rotation backwardly from the working position during cutting of the cheese. The" bridge portion 52 may be collapsed as shown to abut a shelf portion 18 of the base which adjoins a vertical abutment 80. The tray is similar to tray 22 except that it is provided with a curved end lip or hook portion 82. This portion. squeeze fits between abutment and bridge 52' as shown in Figs. 8 and 10 so that tray 22' is forced to engage surface 26 in the non-workingv assembly condition as shown in Figs. 8 and 10, the tray being slightly bowed in this squeeze.

As shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, the base 20 is provided with a hole 84 intersecting shelf '18, abutment 80 and surface 26 in such a way that a nail head 86 is receivable to engage hook portion 82 of tray 22 for securing the entire assembly on a wall as shown in Fig. 10. The top surfaces of rails 12 lie below the top surface of tray 22' when the tray 22' is in the working position.

The lip 82 provides an end edge 88. In cutting use this lip is disposed away from surface 26', and as illustrated in Fig. 1, the edge 88 abuts the end of the cheese loaf so as to orient its cut end for parallelism to the plane of the forward edges of cutter guide legs 54.

The utensil of Figures 11, 12 and 13, while it functions similarly to those of the sec-nd and third modifications, departs therefrom in certain significant particulars. This utensil comprises a base 98, a cutter guide and tray guide 92, and a sliding tray 95. The base 98 is made to provide a fiat rectangular top surface 96 which has straight bounding edges and no upward projections for guiding the tray. The draft, if any, provided on the sides of the base is slight and performs no essential function other than for molding purposes, for which it is held to the minimum necessary draft. The cutting guide 92 forms a guide for the tray 9 instead of the guide projections previously described in connection with other modifications.

Guide 92 is so shaped as to hold itself perpendicular to the top surface 96 without the aid of notches in the base member. The cutting guide is formed of spring bar stock of a width preferably about equal to the height of the base 90, as is seen in Fig. 13. The cutting guide provides pivot bearing ends 98 the inside surfaces of which are offset outwardly abruptly along planes perpendicular to the guiding edges I353 to form square shoulders at I82. These shoulders spring toward each other to seat over the adjoining edges of the base to hold the cutter guide edges vertical, or near vertical. sitioned about midway between the top and bottom of the base and the base grips 98 are rounded so that they cannot contact the surface upon which the base 98 rests.

In the position of Fig. 1.1 the two opposed surfaces IIlfi are parallel and form the guide for the edges of tray 94 so that a cheese loaf carried on the tray moves perpendicularly to the plane of cutter guide edges I80. The tray 94 is provided with a spring lip I88 bent as shown to about an eighty-five degree angle and the bridge III] has tray engaging parts I I2 to squeeze spring lip I88 against the end of base 98 as shown in Fig. 13 thereby holding the three parts in a small cornpact space. bail portion II l through which a hook may be projected for hanging the assembly on a wall. The base 98 may be made of metal or plastic material.

The utensil of Figs. 14 and 15 omits the greater part of a top flat surface similar to surface 5, and provides in lieu of the base of Fig. 1 a rectangular frame I29 having top rails I22. A tray I24 is provided with downturned side edges I26 which slide on rails I22 which are guided between the shoulders I28 of a cutter guide I30. The cutter guide spreads apart above the top of tray I24 to allow a cheese loaf I32, which is wider than the tray or base, to be cut on the utensil. The cutter guide I30 may be otherwise constructed similarly to guide 92, and the rails I22 may be spread against bearing portions I34 of the guide legs by a spring I36 surrounding the pivot shaft I38 for the cutter guide.

I claim:

1. A utensil for use in the slicing of cheese and the like comprising, in combination: a rigid body providing a base having flat parallel top and bottom plane surfaces, side walls defining substantially parallel terminal side edges for the Pivot pins Iil l are po- The bridge IIEI further provides a lit) top and bottom surfaces, and end walls defining substantially parallel terminal end edges for the top and bottom surfaces perpendicular to the side edges in said respective planes of said top and bottom surfaces; a cutter guide formed of a continuous rigid member to provide a bridge portion and two leg portions, said leg portions havin two terminal hinge portions spaced apart to embrace and engage the side walls of the base, means on said base sidewalls and on the terminal hinge portions of the cutter guide legs hinging the cutter guide on the side walls to turn about an axis parallel to the top surface and parallel to the end edges of the base surfaces with the hinge axis disposed between the top and the bottom surfaces of the base, complementary detent devices formed on said cutter guide and on said base member providing for releasably detaining said cutter guide in a fixed position with respect to the top surface of the base member, the cutter guide legs providing two straight parallel edges defining a plane of cutting adjacent thereto which plane, when the cutter guide is so releasably detained by the detent devices, is approximately perpendicular to the top surface of the base member with the plane of cutting so defined displaced a distance from a near end edge of the surface which distance if of the order of the length of said cutter guide le portions, said detent devices being constructed and arranged to allow th cutter guide to turn about the axis of hinging throu h approximately a right angle t allow the cutter guide to be collapsed with the bridge portion thereof to lie adjacent the end edge of the base member; a tray member of rigid fiat sheet material formed to constitute at least a portion thereof a rectangular shape and rectangular cross section to provide a flat surface having straight parallel side edges spaced apart a distance nearly equal to the distance between the side edges of the top surface of the base member and having end edges spaced apart a distance about equal to the distance between the end edges of the top surface of the base member with its side edges parallel to the side edges of the top surface of the base member between the legs of the cutter guide, and with one face of the tray resting on the top surface of the base and the other face exposed upwardly to form a support for a cheese loaf thereon, and means mounted on the base member forming parallel plane surfaces spaced apart to engage the side edges of the tray member for forcing the tray member to slide therebetween with substantially straight line motion parallel to the side edges of the top surface of the base member.

2. A device as in claim 1, said cutter guide, rigid body, and tray having interengageable means by which the tray may be fixed on the body when the guide is folded therealong.

HAROLD LAURANCE NELSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 638,135 Osborn Nov. 28, 1899 1,441,887 Scott Jan. 9, 1923 1,918,675 Webster July 18, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 177,061 Great Britain Mar. 23, 1922 286,327 Great Britain Mar. 8, 1928 

